Occupational Health and Safety
The following statement is provided in accordance with Section 74 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 (OH&S Act).
Management Arrangements
Finance’s OH&S Committee oversees the department’s work practices to ensure they are safe and align with workplace safety guidelines. It ensures Finance staff receive suitable OH&S training and makes recommendations on OH&S matters to Finance’s Executive Board. The committee includes both management and staff representatives from each of the department’s business groups. In consultation with staff, the committee has developed Health and Safety Management Arrangements for the department.
Each Business Group in Finance has a Health and Safety Representative and a Deputy Health and Safety Representative who represent their group on OH&S issues. These representatives can exercise the powers, functions and rights prescribed in the OH&S Act.
During 2008-09, Finance reviewed its management of OH&S matters and updated the department’s Occupational Health and Safety and Rehabilitation Strategic Plan 2007-08 to 2009-10. The revised plan sets out an agenda for improving OH&S outcomes by identifying workplace hazards, assessing and controlling risks to health and safety, and preventing workplace injuries.
Initiatives
Finance’s key OH&S initiatives in 2008-09 included:
- establishing an in-house OH&S rehabilitation service from 30 June 2008 (the department had previously outsourced this service);
- reviewing Finance’s OH&S management to incorporate new OH&S legislative requirements, including developing Health and Safety Management Arrangements which improve on the department’s previous consultation and risk management approach;
- providing manager-specific OH&S training for managers at Executive Level 2 and above;
- providing revised OH&S information for new employees as part of their induction into the department;
- training Health and Safety Representatives to improve their ability to identify hazards, and assess and control OH&S risks;
- a structured hazard inspection program for all work areas;
- offering ergonomic workstation assessments to all employees;
- providing a confidential counselling service for employees through an Employee Assistance Program; and
- continuing the department’s Health Promotion Program, including initiatives such as health awareness seminars, exercise classes, a walk-a-thon, influenza vaccinations and a health check program.
Finance works in partnership with Comcare, the Australian Government’s Occupational Health and Safety agency. In 2008-09, the department continued to take part in Comcare’s Psychological Injury Research Project, which aims to improve the prevention and management of psychological injuries within the workplace. Finance continued to engage in early intervention and managed compensation claims and non-compensable injury or illness cases intensively.
Health and Safety Outcomes
Finance has shown steady improvement in health and safety outcomes, reducing the number of workplace injuries sustained by the department’s staff. As a result, Comcare reduced the 2008-09 agency workers’ compensation premium rate paid by the department from the original estimate of 0.60 per cent to 0.57 per cent.
Statistics of Accidents or Dangerous Occurrences
During 2008-09, Finance reported 14 incidents to Comcare under Section 68 of the OH&S Act (Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences). These incidents involved twelve employees and two contractors. Thirteen of the reported incidents involved serious personal injuries and the remaining one involved a dangerous occurrence, as defined in the OH&S Act.
Investigations & Notices
Section 29 Notices (Provisional Improvement Notices)
No notices were issued under Section 29 of the OH&S Act.
Section 46 Notices (Power to Issue Prohibition Notices)
No notices were issued under Section 46 of the OH&S Act.
Section 47 Notices (Power to Issue Improvement Notices)
No notices were issued under Section 47 of the OH&S Act.
Investigations (Sections 29, 46, or 47)
No investigations were undertaken.